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Family Fun

Family
Play & Learning Activities

Central Indy Family Fun Guide

Central Indy has a lot to offer families, including museums, parks, events, and more. Whether you are looking for things to do on a rainy day or planning an action-packed staycation, we have outlined some of the great things our city (and state) has to offer.

Included in this Guide:

  • County-specific events
  • Farmer’s market guide
  • local parks, playgrounds, and splash pads
  • local museums
  • Day trip ideas
  • At-home activities
Exploring the outdoors

Local outdoor experiences for your family

Looking to get out and try new local experiences? Check out our Central Indy parks and splash pad bingo cards!

PDF Resource

Creek Stomping

Dip your toes in the water, skip rocks, and search for crawdads at our top creek stomping spots.

Download

PDF Resource

Splash Pads

Splash pads are a great, free alternative to a pool to keep you cool all summer long.

Download

PDF Resource

Playgrounds

Looking for the best, most interesting park in Indy? Search no farther! Visit at different park each week with our Playground Bingo Card.

Download

Around my community

Free, Indoor Playgrounds

Looking for a place to play inside? These free, indoor playgrounds are an awesome place to take your kids on a rainy (or sunny!) day.

  • The Park indoor playground at Trader’s Point Church
  • The Tree House indoor playground at Plainfield Christian Church
  • The Center at the Well indoor playground | Brownsburg
  • Cornerstone Lutheran Church | Fishers
Playground Hours
Exploring the outdoors

Outdoor Day Trips

Explore Indiana with these hiking trails & outdoor experiences around the state.

  • Clifty Falls State Park
  • Hoosier National Forest
  • Indiana Caverns
  • Marengo Cave
  • McCormick’s Creek State Park
  • The Adventure Hiking Trail | O’Bannon Woods State Park
  • Turkey Run | Shades State Park
Top Hiking Trails
County Specific Resources

Exploring Hendricks County

Your guide to what is happening around Hendricks County. Check out more things to do, including events and restaurants at visithendrickscounty.com.

Featured Events

  • Central Indiana Enchanted Fairy Festival | May 21-22, 2022, Beasley’s Orchard – Danville
  • Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ | June 25, 2022, Hendricks County Fairgrounds
  • Hendricks County 4-H Fair | July 17 – 23, 2022 | Hendricks County Fairgrounds
  • North Salem Old Fashion Days Parade | September 4-6, 2022, North Salem
  • Heartland Apple Festival | October 1 – 2 & 8 – 9, 2022 | Beasley’s Orchard

Things to Do

  • Beasley’s Orchard
  • Enchanted Fair Trail | Several locations around Hendricks County
  • Natural Valley Ranch, horseback riding
  • Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
  • Splash Island Family Waterpark

Parks, Playgrounds, & Gardens

  • Arbuckle Acres Park, Brownsburg
  • Avon Gardens
  • Avon Town Hall Park
  • Ellis Park, Danville
  • Hummel Park, Plainfield
  • Washington Township Park, Avon
  • Williams Park, Brownsburg
  • W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, Danville

Farmer's Markets

  • Hendricks Regional Health | 4 – 7 p.m. | Tuesday
  • Pittsboro UMC | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Wednesday
  • Plainfield Friends Meeting Church | 4 – 7 p.m. | Wednesday
  • Brownsburg Town Hall | 4 – 7 p.m. | Thursday
  • Danville Town Square | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
Around my community

Touch-a-Truck Events

Touch-A-Truck gives your little ones the opportunity to get in the driver’s seat and touch the trucks they love so much—everything from big rigs, to farm trucks, to rescue vehicles. Indy area Touch-A-Truck events are among the best loved activities for local families.

Visit the link below to see an up-to-date list of touch-a-truck events via indywithkids.com.

Indy with Kids
Around my community

Farmer’s Markets

Play and Learning Ideas

  • Dance to live music
  • Find a fruit or vegetable for every color of the rainbow
  • Allow child to pay and count change
  • Meet the farmers, ask questions about their harvest
  • Try new foods and talk about what you like and do not like

 

Featured Resource

2022 Farmers Market Guide

Your resource for the farmers markets in Hendricks, Hamilton, and Marion counties.
Read More Download
County Specific Resources

Exploring Hamilton County

Your guide to what is happening around Hamilton County. Check out more things to do, including events and restaurants at visithamiltoncounty.com.

Featured Events

  • Indiana Peony Festival | May 21, 2022 | Seminary Park, Noblesville
  • Indy Pride Pet Pride | June 4, 2022, Riverside Park
  • Spark! Fishers | June 21-25, 2022, Fishers Municipal Complex
  • Carmel Fest | July 3 – 4, 2022 | Civic Square
  • GreekFest 2022 | August 26-27, 2022, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
  • St. George Festival | September 16-18, 2022, St. George Orthodox Christian Church
  • Atlanta New Earth Festival | September 24 – 25, 2022 | Main Street, Atlanta

Things to Do

  • Birdies Mini Golf
  • Conner Prairie
  • Fishers Agripark
  • Morse & Geist Reservoirs
  • Mr. Muffin’s Trains
  • Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
  • Top Golf
  • Saxony Lake & Beach
  • Symphony on the Prairie

Parks, Playgrounds, & Gardens

  • Coxhall Children’s Gardens, Carmel
  • Cyntheanne Park, Fishers
  • Dr. James A. Dillon Park, Carmel
  • Finch Creek Park, Noblesville
  • Flat Fork Creek Park, Fishers
  • Forest Park, Noblesville
  • Founders Park, Carmel
  • Holland Park, Fishers
  • Lawrence W. Inlow Park, Carmel
  • Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve
  • Strawtown Koteewi Park, Noblesville
  • West Park, Carmel
  • Westermeier Commons Playground, Carmel

Farmer's Markets

  • Saxony Market | 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Wednesday
  • Westfield, Mill Street | 5 – 8 p.m. | Thursday
  • Fishers Municipal Complex | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
  • Carmel City Center | 8 – 11:30 a.m. | Saturday
  • Noblesville Main Street | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
Featured Resource

Nature Centers

Indiana is home to many nature centers and nature parks, including many of the state parks. Most of the centers have programs and activities to help children explore the environment around them and experience the natural world.
Read More Download
County Specific Resources

Exploring Marion County

Your guide to what is happening around Marion County. Check out more things to do, including events and restaurants at visitindy.com.

Featured Events

  • IPL 500 Festival Parade | May 27, 2022 5:00 PM | Downtown
  • Rock the Ruins Summer Concerts | June 3-July 29, 2022, Holliday Park
  • Indy Pride Festival & Parade | June 11, 2022, White River State Park
  • Talbot Street Art Fair | June 18-19, 2022, Herron-Morton Place Historic District
  • Indiana Juneteenth Freedom Fest | June 18, 2022 6:00 PM | Old National Center

Summer Fairs & Festivals

  • Broad Ripple Art Fair | May 14 – 15, 2022 | Indianapolis Art Center
  • Earth Day Indiana Festival | June 4, 2022, Garfield Park
  • Indiana State Fair | July 29 to August 21, 2022, Indiana State Fairgrounds
  • Asian Fest | August 7, 2022 | International Market
  • Italian Street Festival | August 13 – 14, 2022 | Holy Rosary Church
  • Sausage Fest | August 20 – 21, 2022 | St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Indy Jazz Fest | September 15 – 19, 2022 | Garfield Park Center for Arts
  • Global Fest | September 19, 2022 | SoBro

Things to Do

Museums

  • Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
  • Eiteljorg Museum
  • Indiana State Museum
  • Indiana State Police Museum
  • Indianapolis Zoo
  • Motor Speed Museum
  • NCAA Hall of Champions
  • Newfields, including the 100 Acres outdoor area
  • Rythem! Discovery Center

Family Attractions & Experiences

  • Belmont Beach
  • Canal Walk
  • Dallara IndyCar Factory
  • Duckpin Bowling, Fountain Square
  • Indianapolis Cultural Trail
  • Monon Trail
  • The Garage Food Hall
  • Trader’s Point Creamery
  • White River State Park & Gardens

Neighborhoods to Explore

  • Broad Ripple
  • Irvington
  • Fountain Square
  • Mass Ave.
  • Speedway

Parks, Playgrounds, & Gardens

  • Eagle Creek Park
  • Fort Harrison State Park
  • Garfield Park & Conservatory
  • Holliday Park
  • Indianapolis Colts Canal Playspace
  • Marrot Park
  • Opti-Park
  • Sandorf Park
  • Shawn Grove Park
  • Southeastway Park
  • Stout Field Park
  • Tarkington Park
  • Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
  • Wildwood Park

 

Farmer's Markets

  • City Market | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Wednesday
  • Fort Ben Farmers Market | 4 – 7 p.m. | Thursday
  • State House Market | 10:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. | Thursday
  • Binford Farmers Market | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
  • Broad Ripple Farmers Market | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
  • Cumberland Farmers Market | 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. | Saturday
  • Garfield Park Farmers Market | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Saturday
  • Irvington Farmers Market | 12 – 3 p.m. | 2nd Sunday
Around the state

Family Friendly Day Trips

No need to pack your bags or make a hotel reservation. Here are our top kid-friendly day trips from central Indiana that offer plenty of family fun.

  • Wonder Lab Science Museum | Bloomington, IN

  • Wolf Park | Battle Ground, IN

  • Fort Wayne Zoo | Fort Wayne, IN

  • Indiana Dunes | Porter, IN

  • Muncie Children’s Museum | Muncie, IN

  • Tippecanoe Battlefield Park | West Lafayette, IN

  • Fort Wayne Firefighter’s Museum | Fort Wayne, IN

  • Science Center | Fort Wayne, IN

  • Terre Haute Children’s Museum | Terre Haute, IN

  • Wilstem Wildlife Park | Paoli, IN

  • Kidscommons | Columbus, IN

Play & Learning

Family friendly at-home activities

Whether you are playing together as a family or searching for independent activities for your kiddos, combat those “I’m bored”‘s with these great hands-on play activities!

PDF Resource

LEGO Calendar

31 different LEGO activities for your preschool and school-age children.
Download
PDF Resource

Playdough Calendar

31 days of playdough, including things to add to make it more exciting. Fun for all ages!
Download
PDF Resource

60 Things to do with Toddlers

Toddlers have short attention spans, but are easily entertained. Check out these 60 simple activities to keep your toddlers busy.
Download
PDF Resource

30 Days of Pride Calendar

Something different to try or experience every day during Pride month.
Download
blocks
PDF Resource

25 Ways to Build with Blocks

Try changing up your building materials with 25 different ways to build blocks.
Download
PDF Resource

Learning with Bubbles

Bubbles are fun, magical, and calming. Check out these tips on learning with bubbles.
Download
PDF Resource

Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt

Get outside and search the neighborhood or a local park for these signs of spring (or summer!).
Download
News & Stories

Game Night Ideas

Who doesn't love family game night? Our blog shares our favorite games and where to find them!
Read More
PDF Resource

Non-Food Sensory Bin

Children learn through their senses which is why sensory tubs are the perfect activity for kids. Try each of these non-food sensory ideas in your bin.
Download

Kids Eat Free

Kids eat free and at discounted prices at so many restaurants in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. Check out Indy with Kid's list in the link below.
Participating Restaurants

Inclusive Playgrounds

Looking for a playground where children of all abilities can play in the same space? Indy’s Child lists local inclusive playgrounds where you can find equipment for all physical abilities and play experiences that meet a variety of needs and interests. Check out the link or the pictures below for a park near you!

Conner Prairie Inclusive Playground

Built in 2020, this playground adds to the awesome features and inclusive experiences already present at Connor Prairie.
Learn More

Westermeier Commons Park

Two specific areas for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, including wheelchair accessible features, non-traditional play structures, and a separate splash pad. 920 Central Park Dr. West, Carmel
Learn More

Freedom Trail Park

Both wheelchair and sensory friendly, Freedom Trail Park includes a sensory garden with over 2000 plants, as well as multiple interactive sensory elements - the first of it’s kind in the state of Indiana. 500 Deer Walk Trace, Westfield, IN
Learn More

“Everyone’s Playground” at River Heritage Park

Everyone’s Playground was specifically designed for inclusion and accessibility for children with various special needs. 11813 River Road, Carmel, IN
Learn More

Independence Park

Indiana’s first all-accessible playground, including a sensory area designed with specifically for children with Autism. 2100 S Morgantown Road, Greenwood, IN
Learn More

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Indiana Access Pass

The Indiana Access Pass is a great way for families who qualify to visit several of the best Indiana museums and cultural institutions for $2 per person.
Apply Online
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